Posts

Italy

Venice

Ahhh Venice. We all grew up seeing the images, Italian gondolas on the canals and James Bond racing across the rooftops. The good news is that Venice does not disappoint. It is just as picturesque and charming as it seems.

The first thing to know is that Venice and surrounding areas are actually a bunch of Islands. So just getting from the airport or train station is most likely going to Involved a boat ride. Connected to the airport are a series of docks where you can hire a private water taxi, or simply board a commuter service boat. Our one way ride from the airport to Lido was a flat fee of eighteen euros each.

Once you leave the airport area and get in closer to Venice you can purchase a multi-day pass that works for both land-based busses and water buses. There are very few places that you cannot get on the water buses.

We stayed on Lido Island, one side of which faces the Adriatic Sea, with white sandy beaches, beach bars and row after row of beach cabanas. The other side of this long thin Island is a nice residential area with an Italian flare. Buses run the length of the island and unlike make of the local island, personal cars are allowed.

A short water bus ride gets you to Venice, which teems with bars and restaurants, cathedrals and public squares. The most famous of these squares is St Marks square, bands play, children chase pigeons and old charm oozes out of every corner.

At one side of the piazza is St Mark’s Basilica. It is hard to describe the beauty and craftsmanship that is on display. Even if you aren’t the least bit religious, and a self guided tour of the inside is well worth it.

Bars serving spritzes are everywhere. Most allow you to choose the Aperitif you want. There of course Aperol, which is not really that great tasting but had an amazing marketing program. My favorite is Select, which was created right there is Venice in 1920. There is even one bitter made from artichokes, but I would not recommend it for a spritz. If you would like to know more about how to make an authentic Italian spritz, check out this video, from the Cocktails with George YouTube channel.

Other must-see Island accessible with your mutli-day bus pass include Murano and Burano. Murano glass is famous the world around. Once could easily spend a whole afternoon just wandering from shop to shop looking at ornate blown glass creation. You can see everything from tine desktop pieces to elaborate chandeliers.

A little past Morano is Burano, an island famous for two things. First the brightly painted buildings in every color of the rainbow, and secondly the lace. Burano lace is considered among the best and most ornate in the world.

We had a great time in Venice.  We met our friends Matthew and Stephanie from San Diego. Matthew took, many of the photos in this article. We also made some new friends, ate amazing food, drank lots of spritzes and did loads of touristy things.  It was a very nice week altogether!

Uncategorized

English In Espana

We recently spent seven wonderful weeks in Spain.

We started in Barcelona, where believe it or not, we ran into the boat we helped build and then deliver from South Africa to Florida. Hello Private Island, what a hoot to see you again at the Barcelona marina!

From Barcelona we traveled to Valencia where we did back-to-back pet sits. All the pets were cats this time. If you would like to know more about how we find our house sits around the world, you can check this link, it will even give you a discount on your first year membership!

Valencia was wonderful. We spent a day at the amazing aquarium and marine park. And then there was the orange juice; Valencia oranges really are the best….

From Valencia we took the high-speed train to Madrid, when they say high speed they really mean it, I clocked the train speed at more than 200 MPH! We spend several days wandering around Madrid and had a wonderful time!

Then it was off to help some new friends improve their English. These programs are cool. You get on a coach bus from your departure city (Madrid this time) to a remote location. This program was located at the Mengibar Palace, a beautiful old castle about 3.5 hours outside of Madrid and right in the middle of one of the best olive oil producing regions of the world!

For each paying participant who wants to improve their English, there is one volunteer native English speaker. Volunteers get transportation to and from the remote location (ie: to Mengibar Palace from Madrid). They also get very nice lodging and all the meals and excursions paid for. Since this one was in Spain it also included wine with lunch and dinner.

So what did we do while there, and what qualifications did we need? We spoke English, for about 12 hours a day, that’s it, no teaching experience necessary. We did not need to be able to speak the local language, as a matter of fact we (and all the students) were encouraged to ONLY speak English for the whole week. That is the point, English immersion.

To help expose the students to as many different accents as possible, there were volunteers from all over the world; in our case: USA, Northern Ireland, Spain, England and New Zealand.

During the week we ate every every meal together, did skits, had debates, lots of one-on-one sessions, telephone practice, game shows and even a Sangria making competition (which George’s team won). Needless to say, by the end of the week, we all got to know each other very well, and we have made friends from around the world we will keep for life!

We have already scheduled our next immersion program for November in the Czech Republic, and we may also come back to Madrid to do another one there in early December.

Think this sounds like fun? Check the links below to learn more about programs around Europe:

There are many others, but these are the ones we have been involved in and can recommend. Many also offer programs for teenagers. What a great way for teens to see Europe and make new friends. (Sorry teens, no wine at the program in Spain for you!)

Argentina

Traveling Through Argentina

When we left Chile, we jumped on a bus towards Argentina. If you have time, the big buses are a very comfortable way to travel.  They typically have two classes of seat, with the upper class being larger fully reclining seats, with power plugs privacy curtains and the works. Whichever class you choose, it is still quite affordable.

Our route from Santiago Chile to Mendoza Argentina took us up and over the Andes via the famous switchback roads that climb their way up and down the mountains. There was a brief stop (maybe 30 minutes in line) at the border, and we were back on the bus. All in all, the trip took 8 hours and was easily the most amazing bus trip we have even been on.

Mendoza Argentina is famous for it the wine regions surrounding it, and specifically for the somewhat fruit forward Malbecs that are particular to this region. Out day tour to the into the region was quite affordable (about $35 per person).

The tour guides on the bus were a lot of fun, and we visited three wineries and an olive oil press. All in all, a very fun and entertaining day.

We were very excited to try out the famous Argentinian beef, so while we were in Mendoza we booked an evening for a traditional BBQ (or asada as they call it) on a rooftop deck. It was a combination cooking class, cultural orientation and wine tasting. Our host Francisco was delightful, and the evening was huge success.

 

From Medoza, we rented a car and drove to Cordoba for on night and then Rosario for a night before making our way to Buenos Aires. Driving in Argentina is relatively easy once you get used to the network of mostly one-way streets and the lack of traffic lights. Traffic here is governed by the “rule of rights”, at any intersection, the car coming from your right side has the right of way. This works most of the time, although defensive driving is highly recommended. One final note on the car rental, the daily rate was low, but the one way drop fee was much higher than we expected. All in all; still cheaper than flying and we got to see a lot of the country.

Buenos Aires bills itself as the most beautiful city of Latin America and it is lovely. We settled into an air B&B with a funky bohemian style to it. We spend the better part of two months exploring the town from our base in the lovely neighborhood of Palermo. We have enjoyed the weekend markets of SOHO, the beautiful parts and Polo grounds and of course the street parties during Carnival.

Next week we jump on a cruise ship to start our 17-day journey to Spain. We have found that repositioning cruises are an excellent (and affordable) way to travel overseas without the jetlag and discomfort of a long-haul flight.

South America

Hello Santiago!

It’s been quite a while since we last set foot in Santiago—George’s project here in 2006 feels like a lifetime ago! So much has changed in the city, but one thing remains the same: the incredible warmth of the people who welcome you with open arms. 

Our adventure began with a late-night arrival after an eight-hour flight from Sydney. Jet lag hit us hard, so we took it easy on our first day, enjoying a delicious meal at an outdoor patio in the funky, bohemian Lastarria neighborhood. It was the perfect way to ease back into the city’s rhythm. 

Once we’d recovered, we dove into classic sightseeing. The hop-on hop-off bus gave us a fantastic introduction to Santiago, and the cable car ride to the top of San Cristobal Hill was a highlight. Fun fact: this cable car is said to be the third most popular tourist attraction in Latin America! The descent was just as memorable, thanks to the funicular—a unique sled-like contraption guided by massive pulleys and cables. It’s a must-try for anyone visiting the city. 

Sundays in Santiago are for markets, and we were blown away by the sheer scale—acres of stalls bursting with fresh fruit, fish, meats, and everything in between. After a busy morning exploring, we treated ourselves to brunch and pisco sours at alocal café, savoring the flavors and energy of the city.

Our Spanish was a bit rusty after so many years away from Latin America, but we found the perfect way to brush up: a visit to the local barbershop. Gabriel and Wilmer, the barbers, were not only skilled but also incredibly patient and fun. Our conversation ranged from world politics to the local economy—and, of course, where to find the best empanadas in Santiago. 

Next up: a train journey across the Andes to Mendoza, Argentina. We’ve heard the views are nothing short of spectacular, and we can’t wait to share more about this next chapter of our adventure.

Stay Tuned!

Australia

Reconnecting and Celebrating in Sydney

Our cruise from Hawaii brought us back to one of our favorite places – Sydney. There’s something special about returning to Australia, and this trip was no exception. We enjoyed two house sits in the greater Sydney area: a week on the coast north of the city and ten weeks in the western suburbs, both filled with the fun of caring for dogs and exploring new neighborhoods.

Being in Australia over the holidays was perfect. It gave us the chance to reconnect with old friends and welcome new ones into our circle. Our history with Sydney goes back to 1993, when George worked on the launch of Optus Communications. It’s amazing to see how much the company—and our friendships—have grown since then.

We caught up with longtime friends Sally and Brian, who introduced us to their vibrant group, including Lizzie, Hamish, Laura, and David. Reconnecting with Tom and Yawen from San Diego was another highlight; their home in Potts Point (formerly King’s Cross) became a hub for gatherings, and through them, we met Keiran and Ian, who treated us to an unforgettable dinner.

The holidays were made even more festive when Rachael flew in to join us. Thanksgiving was a true celebration, complete with turkey, all the trimmings, and a table full of desserts. Sharing this American tradition with friends—many for the first time—was a joy, and George even wrote a skit to explain the holiday’s origins (see below).

We also reunited with friends from Optus; we had a great visit with Louisa. We also caught up with Karen and Tony (and thier respective spouses). We enjoyed a relaxing afternoon and pub lunch in Neutral Bay, with Rachael along for the ride. The festivities continued between Christmas and New Year’s, when Matthew, Stephanie, and Stephanie’s mom Celia joined us.

Tom and Yawen hosted a spectacular New Year’s Eve, featuring delicious prime rib and a front-row seat to the fireworks.

To cap it all off, we hosted a southern-style BBQ and music jam, surrounded by our Sydney and San Diego friends. Good food, great music, and even better company made it a memorable start to the new year.

We can’t wait to return to Sydney and see everyone again. Next stop: Santiago, Chile

 

George’s First Thanksgiving Play:

Narrator(George): “As many of you here are not from America; we thought it would be helpful to explain the origins of the first Thanksgiving with a dramatic reading.

I will be your narrator, the part of the Native American Indian will be played by Rachael, the Pilgrim will be played by Tom: and finally  Lizzy will be supplying all our sound effects.”

Sound: Dramatic introductory trumpet blast

Narrator: In 1620 a group of separatists, known as the Pilgrims, set sail from England in search of religious freedom.”

Pilgrim: “We are going to America to worship any way we want, surely that will work out!”

Narrator: “There were 132 passengers and 30 crew members. In addition, there were two bull mastiff dogs”

Sound: Dog barking

Narrator: “Since there were rats on board”

Sound: rats squeaking

Narrator: There were also several hard-working cats

Sound: cats meowing

Narrator: The journey was long and the weather was very rough”

Sound: wind howling, thunder etc

Narrator: “Finally, after 10 weeks there was a shout from the ship”

Pilgrim: “I see a Ho!”

All But Pilgrim: “That’s Land Ho!”

Narrator: “It was Plymouth Rock!”

Sound: Goes crazy with air guitar solo with electric sound

All but Sound: “Not that kind of rock”

Narrator: “When they arrived in Massachusetts, they were exhausted from the journey, weak from lack of food, extremely cold (since it was the dead of winter) and completely unprepared to cope with this new environment.”

Pilgrim: “I am tired, I am hungry, I am cold and I think I just broke a nail!”

Narrator: Luckily for the new settlers, there was a tribe of indigenous people known as the Winnebago Indians

Indian: “Wam-pa-no-ag Indians”

Narrator: “OK, the Wampanoag Indians, who took pity on them.”

Indian: “We will teach you how to make shelter, how to hunt for wild game and which plants like corn, pumpkins and sweet potatoes will grow. We will teach you to fish in the ocean and the streams and how to prosper in our native lands.              But you better not screw us over later, ok?”

Pilgrim: “Oh we would never lie, break treaties, cheat you, or steal your lands….”

Indian: “well, OK, then.”

Narrator: “So the Indians taught the settlers how to build shelters and how to be a ho in the corn fields”

All but narrator: “That’s how to hoe the corn fields”.

Narrator: “Oh, with much help from the Indians, the pilgrims made it through the harsh winter, and their first crop of corn and local vegetables was extremely bountiful.”

Pilgrim: “We are going to have a feast to celebrate our amazing harvest and the fact that we made it through the first year here. Hey Indians since you helped us out a little:”

Indian: “A LOT!”

Pilgrim: “Yeah whatever, anyway since you helped us out, we would love it if you would join us for the feast”.

Narrator: “So, the Indians joined the feast brought fish and local game and it was foul”

All but the narrator: “No that’s fish, local game and fowl”

Indian: “Here’s a turkey, you can get stuffed”

Pilgrim: “I think you mean we can stuff the turkey.”

Indian: “I got a bad feeling about the future of our relationship.”

Narrator: and so began a long tradition of hosting annual party to give thanks for another good year. It is an occasion to invite family and friends’ round for a bountiful feast, featuring stuffed turkey, local vegetables and amazing desserts.

All: “Welcome to our thanksgiving celebration!”

Hawaii

Aloha From Kialua

This is not the first time we have been to Honolulu, but it our previous visits have been a quick stop in Waikiki on the way to someplace else.

Don’t get us wrong, we like Waikiki but does feel a bit like a cross between Disney World and Las Vegas, especially at night. I am pretty sure that the lights of Kalakkaua Ave can be seen from space. The beach is amazing, the surf is fantastic, the water and weather are warm. There is a LOT to be said for sitting on the deck at Duke’s on a Sunday afternoon listening to Henry Kapono and his band weave their magical spell of the islands.

Prior to our arrival we arranged a house sit in Kailua. If you are not familiar with our house-sitting operation you can read more here. If you decide you want to sign up for Trusted House Sitters, this link will give you 25% off of your first year.

Kailua is on the eastern side of the island on the other side of the Ko’olau mountain range. It’s a very leisurely 30-minute ride on the Pali highway (route 61) with some truly amazing scenery.

We house sat for a lovely couple and two of the sweetest dogs we have even come across (not mention a couple of chickens that graced us with fresh eggs daily). The pups, Monty and Mak, were pitbulls mixes, which may sound a bit scary to some, but these two thought they were lap dogs. We have heard the term “Velcro dog” in the past but now we really know what it means, these two followed us around everywhere we went and if we sat, Monty needed to be touching one of us.

Over the three weeks we were there we settled into a easy schedule. Up in the morning, yoga, breakfast (fresh eggs) and then a walk with the dogs. It was indeed warm, so after the walk, we would all jump in the pool in the back yard and cool off. The back yard was the kind of oasis that one could only create in Hawaii.

The amazing beaches, Kailua Beach and Lanikai were just a short walk from the house. They were everything you could hope for in a beach and had the bonus of being far away from the tourist crowds of Waikiki.

On the way home from the beach was an excellent shave’ ice stand. (note: shave’ – not shaved). This delicacy, like so many others, that just seems to taste better where it originated (kind of like drinking Guiness in Ireland). Delicately shaved ice; piled high and drenched with locally made sugar syrups of all flavors. Don’t confuse shave’ ice with a sno-cone, there really is no comparison…

The days flew past and soon it was time for us to board a ship to Australia, more about that trip later….

Poland

Beautiful Poland

We had a great time wandering around the USA visiting with family and friends, but now we are back in Europe.

First a note about how we got here this time. We took a repositioning cruise from Florida to Barcelona. If you are not familiar with the idea of repositioning cruises, check out this article. The long and short of it is that we spent 14 days crossing the Atlantic on a cruise ship, with a lovely cabin and all the regular things that you would expect on a cruise for a fraction of the price. In addition to a amazing trip, we had the advantage of arriving without the usual jet lag of a transatlantic flight.

After one quick night in Barcelona, we caught a cheap flight on WizzAir to Poland. The first stop on our four-week trip to Poland was Wroclaw (pronounced Rots-lav). This was the meet up point for the first of three back-to-back English immersion programs.

Basically, what happens is that people who are learning English pay to attend a one-week intensive English only retreat. For each student, there is a native English speaker who is volunteering. So we got to see three amazing parts of Poland (really 6 if you count the departure cities). In exchange for volunteering, we got our housing food and excursions paid for. This time we did programs that were based out of Wroclaw, Krakow and Warsaw. We met some amazing people, both volunteers and students, sang some songs drank some wine and just generally had a fantastic time.

This is not the first time we have volunteered for English immersion programs. If you would like to learn more you ca check out our post about the school we attended in Germany and Spain. Or if you like to learn more (or volunteer yourself) check out the links below:

 

Once we had completed our third week of immersion schools, we were ready for a break, so we grabbed a little studio apartment and spent a week exploring Krakow. We ate amazing food, met up with friends we made over the last few weeks and acted like tourists, It was great.

On a more somber note, we did not feel like we could leave Krakow with taking the time to tour two of the biggest concentration camps in the area. This was especially poignant for us given the rise of authoritarianism in the world today. Between 1940 and 1945 1.1 million people died in just these camps, there are others like them. It is impossible to describe the experience, but it is these are places we feel every person should see. Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.

Coming up: we travel to Palermo to start our search for the best Cannoli in Sicily!

Captain George and first Mate Bonnie!
Uncategorized

Captain’s License

I (George) recently got my boat captain’s license from the U.S. Coast Guard and let me tell you the process was not straight forward! There are a lot of prerequisites. In fact it was so complicated that we decided to make a video to walk others through the process.

The good news is that I got it all done, I am now fully licensed.

So if you need your boat delivered on the East Coast or in the Caribbean, or if you have a charter boat and are looking for a captain and first mate, Bonnie and I are ready!

You can watch the video here…

USA

So Much History!

Despite all our global traveling, we realized that there is so much of our home country that we have yet to explore. To that end, we have set off in a trek across America. Our route will take us up the east coast, across the northern part of the United States, on an Alaskan cruise, down the West Coast and then, once more, across the southern part of the country. (FYI – This will be our second trip from east to west and our third cross country since August 2023 😮).

Our low budget travels are made possible, by:

      1. Thousands of miles driven in a Toyota Rav4 that was generously loaned to us by George’s brother, Frank.
      2. Many family members and friends who have or will host us along the way.
      3. Extensive use of the Trusted House Sitters program.

At present we find ourselves house sitting for Dimitri, an extremely vocal but very lovable, yellow cat. Dimitri and his people live in Franklin Massachusetts, which is about an hour outside of Boston. We know this because earlier this week we traveled into Boston to see our dear friend Fred run the Boston Marathon.

As school children we learned of much of the history of Boston, the “tea party”, “one if by land and two if by sea” and all of that. We had no idea, however, about the amazing history of the small town of Franklin.

The town of Franklin was established in 1860. It was originally planned to be called Exeter, but as was the custom at the time at the last minute they changed the name of honor one of the heroes of the American Revolution. In this case, it was the statesman Benjamin Franklin. This was the first town that had been named after him.

By reading plaques and exhibits around town we learned some of the fascinating details about the town’s history. It seems that a local pastor suggested, that since the town was named after him and all, it might be appropriate for Ben Franklin to contribute a bell for the steeple of the local public meeting house. Meeting houses in those days were often Protestant churches, and or facilities for paying subscribers.

Franklin wrote back and advised that he was honored to be the namesake of the town, but that he did not wish to contribute a bell, which would only mean that the townspeople would have to pay to erect a steeple. Instead, he suggested that he provide an endowment of a specific set of (116) books that he and his family had chosen. His logic here was that: “sense is more important than sound”. While there were those who wished to keep the collection private, the townspeople voted to make it public. Thus, the very first public book lending library was established in the USA.

The library now is nothing short of breathtaking and very actively used by the proud citizens of Franklin. Among the early users of that library was local lad by the name of Horace Mann. Despite very little formal education in his early years, Mann made extensive use of the library. This enabled his acceptance to Brown University at age 20. He got his law degree and later became the Secretary of the newly formed Massachusetts Board of Education. Mann’s work there led him to become widely known as the father of the American public education program.

No doubt we will continue to learn interesting tidbits during our walks around Franklin over the few days.

From here we’re off to see Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore, Deadwood city and so much more of America…

 

Mexico

No Better Time Than Now, For Mexico!

It was great seeing so many friends and family members on our drive across America; especially since we had been overseas so long. Our extended stay in the United States was made possible in part because we were finally able to get signed up for insurance via the Affordable Care Act. Now we have coverage both inside the USA and when we are on the road internationally.

We came across an amazing opportunity to house sit in Mexico, and it was just too good to pass up. So after after a house sit in San Diego and some days with wonderful friends, we hopped a flight to Playa Del Carmen. This smaller tourist community in roughly centered between Cancun and Tulum with (Cozumel directly to the east) on the Yucatán Peninsula.

Our first location included three very lovable dogs, Mouse, Coco and Brownie. We had a great time playing with them and exploring the neighborhood during daily walks. From there we moved to a lovely but affordable rental apartment for a few days. Since we were not actually house sitting at this location we were able to invites guests to come visit. In this case, our visitors were Bonnie’s niece Isabella and her friend Erik, from Seattle Washington.

Having visitors come is always a good excuse to go do touristy things, and we did! Our first big outing was to wander the “Zona Touristica” where wandered down the long pedestrian street, drank margaritas and had an amazing dinner.

The next day we took a road trip of about two and a half hours to a complex of Mayan ruins called Chichen Itza. Around about 700AD this area was a bustling city with thousands of inhabitants. The tourist area here contains many many ruins and smaller structures, but the largest and most impressive is the pyramid called El Castillo. Wandering around the ruins is made even more entertaining by a horde of salespeople, each hawking souvenirs ranging from jaguar calls to tee shirts and wooden carvings. Everything is “on sale today” and “so cheap it’s almost free”.

A word of caution if you drive yourself to Chichen Itza: many less than reputable groups with try to flag you down on the small road that leads you to the complex. They will tell you, sometimes very convincingly, that they are the official sales people for tickets into the complex, and if you buy later it will cost much more and you can skip the line. In fact, they will try and charge you double and you have to wait in a longer line if you buy from them. Politely decline their offers and wait to buy your tickets at the gate; the line was not bad at all when we were there.

The next day was our fun-in-the-sun day. We started at one of the local fresh water swimming holes. These swimming areas occur naturally when underground limestone caves collapse and fill with ground water. Many have caves that you can explore. There are thirteen of these Cenotes (pronounced see-NO-tay) around Playa Del Carmen. We chose one called Cristalino which, we were advised, is a bit less packed with tourist. The water was in fact crystal clear and blue and not as cold as I expected. We had a great time swimming around and checking out the caves. I’d you sit and dangle your feet in the water, little fish swim up and nibble at the dead skin on your feet. Assuming you are not too ticklish, it is a natural pedicure for free.

After the Cenote, we drove to a nearby beach, where for a very reasonable price we rented beach chairs under shady umbrellas and enjoyed cocktails by the ocean. The weather was delightful, the ocean clear and cool and the service amazing. It is easy to see why this area is the topic of so many songs about escaping for a beach holiday.

Tomorrow we are headed back for a second sit at the same house we visited when we first arrived. In just a few days we will enjoy an extended celebration. October 30th is Bonnie’s birthday and October 31st kicks off a three day holiday in Mexico called Dia de Los Muertes or Day Of The Dead. A whimsical, yet quite serious holiday, in which the Mexican people remember their loved ones who have passed on. More about that later….